New York Gov. David Paterson has suspended a close aide and is asking for an investigation by the attorney general after a published report linked the aide to a claim of domestic violence involving a former girlfriend.

Paterson on Wednesday suspended 37-year-old David Johnson, who rose from volunteer to driver to confidant in more than a decade of working for the Democrat. Paterson also is asking Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate a New York Times article’s claims that state police may have pressured the woman to drop a criminal case against Johnson.

The Times cites court records and the woman’s lawyer in describing a case of domestic violence and a possible effort by state officials to avoid a potential political embarrassment.

Johnson hasn’t been made available for comment.

Paterson says the report raises serious questions that must be thoroughly investigated.